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United States Patent |
5,143,354
|
Nolan
|
September 1, 1992
|
Animal retentive fence attachment
Abstract
An attachment to a fence, such as a chain link fence, used to confine a
dog, prevents the dog from climbing the fence or using the top of the
fence to assist himself in escaping over the fence. The attachment creates
a region of instability, superjacent the top of the fence, which will not
support the dog's weight and thus does not allow the dog to cling to or
push off of the top rail of the fence. The region of instability is
created by a freely rotatable roller attachment or a flexible panel
attachment, both of which yield under the weight of the canine.
Inventors:
|
Nolan; McEdward M. (3420 Far Hill Cir., Birmingham, AL 35243)
|
Appl. No.:
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751504 |
Filed:
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August 29, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: |
256/12; 256/11; 256/16 |
Intern'l Class: |
E04H 017/00 |
Field of Search: |
256/11,12,16
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
321171 | Jun., 1885 | Archibald | 256/12.
|
1140171 | May., 1915 | Lawrie et al. | 256/16.
|
3084913 | Apr., 1963 | Cox | 256/11.
|
3771767 | Nov., 1973 | Dougherty | 256/11.
|
3806095 | Apr., 1974 | Ford | 256/11.
|
4270736 | Jun., 1981 | Burch | 256/12.
|
Primary Examiner: Kundrat; Andrew V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jennings, Carter, Thompson & Veal
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Apparatus for preventing an animal from transversing a fence at the top
thereof comprising:
(a) means for providing a region of instability proximal said top of said
fence comprising a plurality of flexible members extending upwardly and
outwardly from said fence with each one of said plurality of flexible
members in lateral abutting relationship with at least one adjacent
flexible member to form a substantially continuous row of said flexible
members along the top of said fence; and
(b) means for rigidly affixing said plurality of flexible members to said
fence such that each of said plurality of flexible members is prevented
from rotation about a horizontal axis.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for rigidly affixing
comprises:
(a) a housing in two halves with a portion of said halves formed in a
concave manner for positioning on each side of a horizontal support tube
of said fence;
(b) wherein one half of said housing extends above and from apex of said
fence with said plurality of flexible members; and
(c) a means for fastening said halves about said tubing.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein a series of rigid fasteners are
placed through aligned holes in said halves and tightened to secure said
halves of said housing to said tubing.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in said housing supports fence with a
series of ring fasteners connected therebetween.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of flexible
members are formed from plastic.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible members are formed
from a resilient metal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fences and cages and more particularly to
wire mesh or chain link fences of the type used as a boundary to enclose
an area to prevent dogs or other canines from crossing the boundary. More
particularly the present invention relates to devices mounted at the top
of a fence to prevent an animal from going over the fence. In even greater
particularity the present invention relates to fence top barriers which
prevent an animal from going over the fence and which do not injure the
animal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many dog owners utilize what are known as dog runs to provide an area for
exercise of their dogs. This reduces the area of the owner's property
which would otherwise be fenced in to prevent the animal's escape. Other
owners merely fence in substantially all of their yard. Regardless of the
space provided, however, the dog's natural instinct and inherent behavior
requires the creature to seek a means to escape confinement and thus to
roam at will. Accordingly, the dog will either go under or over the fence.
There are numerous devices which can be used to prevent the dog from going
under the fence, however, heretofore no device has been provided which
prevents the dog from going over the fence. The natural solution would
seem to be to build a higher fence, however, dogs do not merely high-jump
fences. Some dogs are, in fact, combination jumper/climbers. That is to
say, they are agile enough to leap to the top of the fence and cling to
the top rail or fence top with their forelimbs while using their rear feet
to push against the fence and crawl over, to the dismay of numerous
owners, pedestrians, and mailmen. Some dogs don't jump at all; they climb
from the bottom as ascending a ladder and may be eviscerated on barbed or
pointed ends of chain link fence. It should also be noted that many dogs
are also injured due to falls in attempting this escape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to keep the clever canine
confined.
Yet another object of the invention is to prevent injury to a dog who
attempts to climb a high fence.
Still another object is to reduce the height needed to confine a canine.
A further object would be to provide a property owner with a fence topping
to deter the entry or exit of a dog from the property.
Yet another object is to provide a generally decorative fence topping which
achieves the foregoing objects.
These and other objects of my invention are advantageously accomplished by
providing a fence topping which retains or returns to its normal shape yet
which will not support the weight of a dog attempting to go from one side
of the fence to the other. In one form my invention utilizes a plurality
of rotatable members affixed superjacent the fence such that the weight of
a dog supported thereon by its forelegs causes the member to rotate toward
the dog thereby causing the dog to fall. In members extending upwardly and
inwardly toward the dog's enclosure. These members bend downwardly under
the dog's weight and cause him to fall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Apparatus embodying features of my invention are depicted in the
accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention atop a fence
discouraging departure of a dog;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a segment of a roller used in my invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing two options for mounting my invention
to a fence post;
FIG. 4b is a sectional view showing a third option for mounting the roller;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention keeping
a canine confined;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a segment of the embodiment shown in FIG.
7; and
FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of two embodiments of the segment shown in
FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the Figures for a clearer understanding of my invention, it
may be seen in FIG. 1 that my invention is an auxiliary device which
mounts atop the existing fence structure or may be included in the new
erection of a fence.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 utilizes a plurality of roller elements 11,
having a predetermined inside diameter such that they loosely fit around a
support rod -2 which is supported above the height of an associated fence
13. The fence 13 includes support posts 14 and horizontal support tubes or
top rails 16 to which a fabric or mesh, such as chain link, is tied. The
rod 12 is supported by a plurality of arms 17 which are shown more clearly
in FIG. 4a. As may be seen in FIG. 4a, each arm 17 has attached to its
uppermost end an "O" clamp 18 through which rod 12 is received. The lower
end of the arm 17 has bolted thereto a pair of "O" clamps 19a and 19b
which are secured to post 14. The arm 17 has a 90 twist formed therein
adjacent the upper "O" clamp 19a and is bent outwardly from post 14. The
arm 17 is also twisted intermediate "O" clamps 19a and 19b to rest flat
against the bolt 19c of "O" clamp 19b. Thus the arm 17 forms a stabilized
spring support for the rod 12 and rollers 11. Also shown in FIG. 4a is an
alternative support ring 21 affixed to a cap 22 on post 14. If ring 21 is
used it must be positioned at a height to insure that rollers 11 do not
contact the rail 16 of the fence 13 at any point. Referring to FIG. 4b, a
third support is disclosed for rod 12. In this embodiment a mated pair of
clamp members 23a and b are formed with concave end portions adapted to
partially encircle rail 16 and rod 12. The clamp members 23a and b are
secured by threaded fastener 24. This embodiment provides stand-off
between the roller 11 and the rail 16 and provides an appearance similar
to arms 17.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be seen that the rollers 11 are
preferentially formed of a plastic or metal material with a plurality of
outwardly extending splines 31 formed on the outer surface thereof. As
seen most clearly in FIG. 3 the splines 31 are inclined counter to the
direction of intended rotation of the roller such that they would cause
the intended rotation if engaged by the dog.
In FIG. 5, it may be seen that the rollers 11 are formed with internal
annular ridges 32 which contact rod 12. These ridges hold the inner
surface of the rollers 11 out of contact with the rod 12 and provide
minimal surface contact with the rod 12 such that the rollers 11 are
easily rotated by the animal. Also, note that the ends of the rollers are
beveled to provide minimal roller to roller contact to reduce friction
therebetween.
Yet another alternative is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the roller 11 extends
from post to post above the rail 16 and is mounted on post extension 34
which has a lubricated bearing 35 affixed thereto for mating engagement
with the rollers 11. As will be understood the rollers shown in this more
elaborate system would be preferred in a fence installation setting as
opposed to altering an existing fence where the posts 14 might not be
evenly spaced.
In FIG. 7 I depict yet another embodiment of my invention. In this
embodiment a set of flexible members 41 are affixed to the rail 16 of the
fence and extend upwardly and inwardly on the dog's side of the fence. As
seen more clearly in FIG. 8, the flexible members have a lower
rail-engaging portion 42 and an upper flexible portion 43. The lower
portion 42 is formed in two halves 42a and 42b with 42a being integrally
formed with upper portion 43. Each of 42a and 42b include a
semi-cylindrical portion 44 or housing which fits about rail and an upper
and lower flange portion 46a and 46b which are connected by threaded
fasteners 47. A set of apertures 48 accommodate a set of fence engaging
loops 49. In this embodiment the flexible members may be clamped directly
to the rail 16 and the fence may be supported by the loops 49 passing
through the lower flange portion 46b and the top of the fence fabric as
shown in FIG. 7 the lower portions, or the rail 13 may be raised and the
fabric 17 supported by loops 49 or they may be lowered by cutting off one
X-section of the fence and engaged with loops 49.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the displacement of upper portion 43 which is
shown in two different profiles, either of which are acceptable. The
flexible member is made of a durable plastic material with sufficient
rigidity to support itself in the manner shown in solid line yet flexible
enough to bend to the position shown in dotted line without permanent
deformation of the member. That is to say, the flexible member 41 should
return to its generally upright position after each downward deflection.
In operation, with the embodiments of FIGS. 8-10 installed on a fence the
flexible members will be perceived by the dog as the top of the fence,
thus a dog jumping to the top of the fence will attempt to place his
weight on his forelegs on the member 41. Obviously, these members 41 will
deflect downwardly under the weight of the dog and he will be unable
either to climb the fence by clinging to the top or to propel himself over
the fence by pushing on the top and will fall harmlessly to the ground.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 the same effect is achieved by the rollers
which rotate toward the dog when he puts his weight thereon after leaping
or climbing to the top of the roller. The rotation of the roller prevents
the dog from supporting his weight on the rail and thus the dog
immediately falls.
From the foregoing it may be seen that my invention will prevent injury to
the dogs by repelling them from the fence top before they are able to
engage their limbs in the fence fabric or fall from balancing on the top
rail or eviscerating themselves on the mesh or entangling their paws and
thus become entangled. Thus, not only are the dogs retained in their
confinement, they are also protected from injury during their escape
attempts. It is also noteworthy to mention that my invention enables dog
owners to build their fences to a substantially lower height without fear
of the dog escaping.
While I have shown my invention in various forms, it will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of
various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit
thereof.
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